MEADE : GOSSIP ON NATURAL HISTORY. 255 



sum. 



Skylark {Alauda arvensis) ... ... at 2.0 



Thrush {Tardus musicus) ... ... „ 3.0 



Yellow-hammer {Ember iza citrinelld) ... „ 3.0 



Swallow {Hi > undo rustica) ... ... „ 3.0 



Chaffinch {Fringilla ccclebs) ... ... „ 3.3 



Blackbird {Tardus meruld) ... ... „ 3.10 



Pettychaps {Curruca hortensis) ... „ 3.25 



Linnet {Linaria cannabind) ... ... „ 4.0 



Bunting {Emberiza miliaria) ... ... „ 4.0 



Greenfinch {Fringilla chioris) ... ... „ 4-° 



After four o'clock it has been noticed that there is generally 

 more or less cessation of song for awhile. 



To the Lark has been accorded the first place by many 

 observers, he sometimes beginning to sing before it is light. 



Turning from birds to plants, the memory of the joyous days 

 of our childhood returns at the sight of the early spring flowers. 



The i nodding Bluebells {Scilla nutans) spread in sheets in the 

 woods ; the graceful Anemone {Anemone nemorosa) ; the delicate 

 little Woodsorrel (Oxalis acetocella) — the original Irish Shamrock — 

 with many others engage our attention. A showy flower, filling the 

 ditches and sw r ampy places, is the Marsh Marigold {Caltha 

 palustris\ called a Kingcup by children, in comparison, I suppose, 

 with its smaller sisters the Buttercups. There is a rare two-winged 

 fly which frequents the flowers of the Caltha in some places; 

 I captured numerous specimens some years ago upon this plant in 

 Nab Wood, near Shipley, but never found it anywhere else. It is 

 the dx'lomyia mollis sima Hal. 



I am always pleased to see the shining yellow petals of the 

 Lesser Celandine {Ranunculus jicaria), it is so bright and one of 

 the first spring flowers to appear. In old botanical w r orks and 

 herbals, the leaves of this plant are said to be good eating along 

 with other herbs. Another very common plant in woods, the Dogs' 

 Mercury {Mercurialis perennis), is also recommended to be eaten, 

 dressed like Spinach. Many other herbs now only looked upon as 

 weeds were also used as food by our ancestors and called pot herbs ; 

 some foreign plants were also introduced and eaten in the same 

 way, and have now become naturalised, and are mostly found in the 

 neighbourhood of houses. 



What was the reason that so many more common green vege- 

 tables were eaten formerly than are now, especially by the poorer 

 classes ? There is no doubt that they were found necessary for the 

 preservation of health before the introduction of the potato. This 



Aug. 1896. 



